PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS ON HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN HO MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have been introduced in Ghanaian public health facilities to address inefficiencies associated with paper-based documentation systems. This study assessed the perceived benefits of EHR implementation on healthcare delivery in Ho Municipality, Ghana. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between January and March 2020 among 334 healthcare professionals from three public health facilities. Data were collected using a structured 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). The instrument demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84). Data were analysed using SPSS version 21 using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Agreement represented the combined responses of “Agree” and “Strongly Agree.” Respondents reported improved customer service (84.2%), reduced billing and National Health Insurance Scheme claims processing time (90.5%), increased productivity (80.0%), improved data security (90.4%), and reduced duplication of patient records (86.7%). The findings suggest notable perceived operational and administrative benefits associated with EHR use. Sustained infrastructure investment, system optimization, and continuous user training are recommended to enhance long-term impact.